A  pastoral  lett 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #400 


A  PASTORAL  LETTER; 


WRITTEN    IN 


PERILOUS     TIMES, 


AND   SUrrABLE   TO   THE 


PI^ESEIVT     TI^JCES. 


MONTGOMERY,  ALA.: 

FLOYD    &    W\RROCK    BOOK   AXD    JOD    PRINTEKS. 
1861. 


At  a  recent  Union  Prayer  meeting  of  Christians  in  Montgomery,  Ala.,  assem- 
bled to  intercede  with  Almighty  God  in  behalf  of  our  country,  the  following 
extract  of  a  Pastoral  Letter,  written  in  troublous  times  of  the  Revolution,  was 
read  by  the  minister  presiding  at  the  meeting.  A  patriotic  Christian  lady,  who 
was  present,  being  much  impressed  with  the  suitableness  of  this  letter  to  our 
own  perilous  times,  and  desiring  that  it  might  have  a  wider  circulation,  ex- 
pressed a  wish  that  it  might  be  printed  in  the  form  of  a  tract,  and  provided 
means  to  defray  the  expense  of  its  publication. 

This  letter  bears  date  May  22,  1775;  and  was  written  by  Drs.  Witherspoon, 
Rodgers,  and  others,  of  a  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  the  Congrega- 
tions under  their  care. 


Pj^STOlFt^VL    LKTTEFt. 


Ver/j  Pear  Brethren  : — The  S^^iiod  being  met  at  a  time  when 
public  affiiirs  wear  so  threatening  an  aspect,  and  when  (unless 
God  in  his  sovereign  providence  speedily  prevent  it)  all  the 
horrors  of  a  civil  war  throughout  this  great  Continent  arc  to 
be  apprehended,  were  of  opinion,  that  they  could  not  dis- 
charge their  duty  to  the  numerous  Congregations  under  their 
care,  without  addressing  them  at  this  important  crisis.  As 
the  firm  belief,  and  habitual  recollection  of  the  power  and 
presence  of  the  living  Grod,  ought  at  all  times  to  possess  the 
minds  of  real  Christians,  so  in  seasons  of  public  calamity, 
when  the  Lord  is  known  by  the  judgment  which  he  execut- 
etli,  it  w^ould  be  an  ignorance  or  indifference  highly  criminal 
not  to  look  up  to  Him  with  reverence,  to  implore  his  mercy 
by  humble  and  fervent  prayer,  and,  if  possible,  to  prevent  his 
vengeance  by  unfeigned  repentance. 

We  therefore,  brethren,  beseech  you  in  the  most  earnest  man- 
ner, to  look  beyond  the  immediate  authors  either  of  your  suf- 
ferings or  fears,  and  to  acknowledge  the  holiness  and  justice 
of  the  Almighty  in  the  present  visitation,  lie  is  righteous 
in  all  his  ways,  and  holy  in  all  his  works.  Affliction  spring- 
eth  not  out  of  the  dust.  He  doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor 
grieve  the  children  of  men  ;  and,  therefore,  it  becomes  every 
person,  family,  city,  and  province,  to  humble  themselves  be- 
fore his  throne,  to  confess  their  sins,  by  wdiich  they  have  pro- 


voked  his  indignation,  and  to  beseech  him  to  pour  out  upon 
all  ranks  a  spirit  of  repentance  and  of  prayer.  Fly  also  for 
forgiveness  to  the  atoning  blood  of  the  Redeemer — the  blood 
of  sprinkling,  which  speaketh  better  things  than  that  of 
Abel.  Remember  and  confess  not  only  your  sins  in  general, 
but  those  prevalent  national  offences,  which  may  be  justly 
considered  as  the  procuring  causes  of  public  judgments  ;  partic- 
ularly profaneness  and  contempt  of  Grod,  his  name.  Sabbaths, 
and  sanctuary  ;  pride,  luxury,  uncleanness,  and  neglect  of  fam- 
ily religion  and  government,  with  the  deplorable  ignorance 
and  security  which  certainly  ought  to  be  imputed  to  tliis  as 
their  principal  cause.  All  these  are,  among  us,  highly  ag- 
gravated by  the  inestimable  privileges  which  we  have  hither- 
to enjoyed  without  interruption  since  the  first  settlement 
of  this  country.  If,  in  the  present  day  of  distress,  we  ex- 
pect that  Grod  will  hear  our  supplications,  and  interpose  for 
our  protection  or  deliverance,  let  us  remember,  what  He  him- 
self requires  of  us  is,  that  our  prayers  should  be  attended 
with  a  sincere  purpose,  and  thorough  endeavor  after  personal 
and  family  reformation.  '-'If  thou  prepare  thine  heart,  and 
stretch  out  thy  hand  towards  him,  if  iniquity  be  in  thine 
hand,  put  it  far  away,  and  let  not  wickedness  dwell  in  thy 
tabernacles."     Job  xi.   13,   14. 

The  Synod  cannot  help  thinking  that  this  is  a  proper  time 
for  pressing  all  of  every  rank,  seriously  to  consider  the  things 
that  belong  to  their  eternal  peace.  Hostilities,  long  feared, 
have  now  taken  place ;  the  sword  has  been  drawn  in  one 
province,  and  the  whole  continent,  with  hardly  any  exception, 
seem  determined  to  defend  their  rights  by  force  of  arms.  If, 
at  the  same  time,  the  British  ministry  shall  continue  to  en- 
force their  claims  by  violence,  a  lasting  and  bloody  contest 
must  be  expected.  Surely,  then,  it  becomes  tliose  who  havo 
taken  up  arms,  and  profess  a  willingness  to  hazard  their  lives 
in  the  cause  of  liberty,  to  be  prepared  for  death,  which  to  many 
must  be  certain,  and  to  every  one  is  a  possible  or  probable 
event. 


We  have  long  seen  with  concern,  tlie  circumstances  which 
occasioned  and  the  gradual  increase  of,  this  unha])py  differ- 
ence. As  Ministers  of  the  gospel  of  peace,  we  have  ardently- 
wished  that  it  could,  and  often  hoped  that  it  would  have  been 
more  early  accommodated.  It  is  well  known  to  you,  (other- 
wise it  woukl  be  imprudent  indeed  thus  public  y  to  profess) 
that  we  liave  not  been  instrumental  in  inflaming  the  minds  of 
the  people,  or  urging  them  to  acts  of  violence  and  disouler. 
Perhaps  no  instance  can  be  given  on  so  interesting  a  subject, 
in  which  political  sentiments  have  been  so  long  and  so  fully 
kept  from  the  pulpit,  and  even  malice  itself  has  not  charged  us 
with  labouring  from  the  press  :  but  as  things  are  now  come  to 
sucli  a  state,  that  we  do  not  wish  to  conceal  our  opinions  as 
men  and  citizens,  so  the  relation  we  stand  in  to  you  seemed 
to  make  the  present  improvement  of  it  to  your  spiritual  bene- 
lit,  an  indispensable  duty. 

Suffer  us  then  to  lay  li(dd  of  your  present  temper  of  mind_, 
and  to  exhort,  especially  the  young  and  vigorous,  by  assur- 
ing them  that  there  is  no  soldier  so  undaunted  as  the  pious 
man,  no  army  so  formidable  as  those  who  are  superior  to  the 
fear  of  death.  TLere  is  nothing  more  awful  to  think  of,  than 
that  those  whose  trade  is  war  should  be  despisersof  the  name 
of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  that  shey  should  expose  themselves 
to  the  imminent  danger  of  being  immediately  sent  from  curs- 
ing and  cruelty  on  the  earth,  to  tlie  blaspheming  rage  and 
desparing  horrors  of  the  infernal  pit.  Let^  therefore,  every 
one,  who  from  generosity  of  spirit,  or  benevolence  of  heart, 
offers  himselt  as  a  champion  in  his  country's  cause,  be  per- 
suaded to  reverence  the  name,  and  walk  in  the  fear  of  the 
Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earthy  and  then  he  may,  with  the 
most  unshaken  firmness,  expect  the  issue  cither  in  victory  or 
death . 

Let  it  not  be  forgotten,  that  though  for  the  wise  ends  of  his 
providence  it  may  please  God,  for  a  season  to  suffer  his  peo- 
ple to  Ifc  under  unmerited  oppression,  yet  in  general,  we  may 
expect,  that  those  who  fear  and  servo  Him    in    sincerity    and 


6 

truth,  will  be  favoured  witli  his  countenance  and  strength. 
It  is  both  the  character  and  the  privilege  of  the  children  of 
God,  that  they  call  upon  Him  m  the  day  of  trouble,  and  He, 
who  keepeth  covenant  and  truth  for  ever,  has  said,  that  his 
ears  arc  always  open  to  their  cry.  We  need  not  mention  to 
you  in  how  many  instances  the  event  in  battles,  and  success 
in  war, have  turned  upon  circumstances  which  were  inconsider- 
able in  themselves, as  well  as  out  of  the  power  of  human  pruence 
to  foresee  or  direct,  because  we  suppose  you  firmly  believe  that 
after  all  the  counsels  of  men,  and  the  most  probable  and 
promising  means,  the  Lord  will  do  that  which  seemeth  him 
good  ;  nor  hath  his  promise  ever  failed  of  its  full  accomplish- 
ment: "the  Lord  is  withyou  while  ye  be  with  him,  and  if  ye  seek 
him  he  will  be  found  of  you  ;  but  if  ye  forsake  him  he  will 
foiwake  you."     2  Chron.  xv.  2. 


The  Union  Prayer-meeting,  at  which  this  Pastoral 
Letter  was  read,  is  held  on  every  Monday  afternoon,  between 
the  hours  of  five  and  six,  in  the  Lecture  Room  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church. 


HolUnger  Corp. 
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